General Article What is current BMA policy on assisted dying?

Topic Selected: Euthanasia
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Current BMA policy

  • opposes all forms of assisted dying
  • supports the current legal framework, which allows compassionate and ethical care for the dying, and
  • supports the establishment of a comprehensive, high quality palliative care service available to all, to enable patients to die with dignity.

The BMA represents doctors throughout the UK who hold a wide range of views on the issue of assisted dying.

While the BMA fully acknowledges this broad spectrum of opinion within its membership, the consensus since 2006 has remained that the law should not be changed to permit assisted dying or doctors’ involvement in assisted dying.

The Association has clear policy on the issue, agreed in 2006.

The BMA:

  • believes that the ongoing improvement in palliative care allows patients to die with dignity 
  • insists that physician-assisted suicide should not be made legal in the UK
  • insists that voluntary euthanasia should not be made legal in the UK
  • insists that non-voluntary euthanasia should not b...

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